Whether Max Verstappen will still compete for the title largely depends on Red Bull’s performance at a circuit like Singapore’s, according to Dr. Helmut Marko. The next Grand Prix of the season will take place there in early October. “And if we are competitive there, then we can start dreaming,” the Austrian states after Verstappen’s victory in Azerbaijan.
“It was a perfect weekend,” Marko confirms after the race in Baku. Verstappen’s success follows the victory in Monza a few weeks ago. Red Bull is back in form. Marko nods. “It shows that this performance was not an incident. We have made a step forward with the car, with the setup, and how we approach a weekend as a team. This method works.”
However, Marko, like Verstappen, does not get ahead of himself. “Let’s first see how it goes in Singapore during the next race weekend.” The street circuit there has not been favorable to Red Bull for years, just like driving with a lot of downforce this season. “And that’s not the only thing,” Makro states. “It’s also bloody hot there. That doesn’t suit us. But if we are competitive there, we can start dreaming.”
That McLaren team boss Andrea Stella has already said that Verstappen is certainly a candidate for the world title, Marko takes note of. Then, grinning: “Nice that Andrea is so optimistic.”
